metals and acids

Reactions of acids and metals

Acids react with most metals and a salt is produced. But unlike the reaction between acids and bases we don't get any water. Instead we get hydrogen gas.

This is the general word equation for the reaction:

metal + acid → salt + hydrogen

Salts

The salt produced depends upon the metal and the acid. Here are two examples:

zinc + sulphuric acid → zinc sulphate + hydrogen

magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen

It doesn't matter which metal or acid is used, if there is a reaction we always get hydrogen gas as well as the salt.

1 of 4

Acids and hydrogen

All acids contain hydrogen atoms. Apart from hydrochloric acid, this is not clear from their names, but you can tell they contain hydrogen from their chemical formulae. Remember that the chemical symbol for hydrogen is H.

2 of 4

Acids and hydrogen

All acids contain hydrogen atoms. Apart from hydrochloric acid, this is not clear from their names, but you can tell they contain hydrogen from their chemical formulae. Remember that the chemical symbol for hydrogen is H.

3 of 4

Salts

A salt is always made when an acid is neutralised by a base. But the exact salt made depends upon which acid and base were used.The name of a salt has two parts: